'Apathy and Other Small Victories' by Paul Neilan follows the life of a middle-aged man named Shane who is portrayed as apathetic, directionless, and cynical. The story revolves around Shane's encounters with suspected murder, dysfunctional relationships, and his mundane job as a temp in an insurance agency. The writing style is described as politically incorrect, irreverent, and full of dark humor, with the main character narrating his absurdly apathetic and comedic experiences.

Characters:

The characters are mostly dysfunctional and reflect the absurdities of life, with Shane being an unlikable yet relatable protagonist.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines cynical humor with a stream of consciousness approach, often featuring politically incorrect jokes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features Shane, a slacker involved in a murder mystery, focusing on his uninspired life and dysfunctional relationships.

Setting:

The setting is modern-day corporate life, showcasing mundane office culture and absurd situations.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and filled with humor, although it becomes choppier and less engaging toward the end.

I was stealing saltshakers again. Ten, sometimes twelve a night, shoving them in my pockets, hiding them up my sleeves, smuggling them out of bars and diners and anywhere else I could find them. In th...

Notes:

The main character, Shane, is a slacker stuck in a temp job he doesn't want.

Shane has a dysfunctional relationship with his abusive girlfriend but never confronts her about it.

He engages in dark humor and satirical commentary about corporate life and personal relationships.

The book includes a subplot involving a murder investigation, though it's primarily a comedy.

Shane has a unique friendship with his deaf dental hygienist, Marlene.

The humor is described as cynical, irreverent, and politically incorrect, appealing to those who enjoy dark comedy.

Neilan's writing style is compared to authors like Bukowski and Palahniuk, both known for their dark humor.

The book's title, 'Apathy', reflects the main character's jaded detachment from life and emotions.

The narrative includes Shane's habit of stealing salt shakers from bars, showcasing his eccentricities.

Readers report laughing out loud multiple times, indicating the book's comedic strength.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of mental health, dysfunctional relationships, and some crude humor that may be considered offensive.

From The Publisher:

A scathingly funny debut novel about disillusionment, indifference, and one man's desperate fight to assign absolutely no meaning to modern life.

The only thing Shane cares about is leaving. Usually on a Greyhound bus, right before his life falls apart again. Just like he planned. But this time it's complicated: there's a sadistic corporate climber who thinks she's his girlfriend, a rent-subsidized affair with his landlord's wife, and the bizarrely appealing deaf assistant to Shane's cosmically unstable dentist.

When one of the women is murdered, and Shane is the only suspect who doesn't care enough to act like he didn't do it, the question becomes just how he'll clear the good name he never had and doesn't particularly want: his own.

"The malaise of cubicle culture may be well-trodden comedic territory by now, but Neilan's debut skewers office life with a flourish for the grotesque." -The Village Voice

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About the Author:

PAUL NEILAN recently left his mind-numbing job at an insurance company in Portland, Oregon, where he spent most of his time hiding in the bathroom and weeping. Born of this and many, many other humiliations, Apathy and Other Small Victories is his first novel.

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Apathy and Other Small Victories

Paul Neilan